It must be some kind of footballing first that when Plymouth Argyle take to the field against Yeovil Town tonight, then they will be fielding their SIXTH goalkeeper of the season.

Following injuries to Luke McCormick, Robbert te Loeke, Kyle Letheran, Remi Matthews and Michael Cooper, Argyle manager Derek Adams was forced to enter the emergency loan market once again. This time, he snapped up Hull City’s Will Mannion. But what do we know about Argyle’s latest custodian?

Goalkeeper Will Mannion signed for Hull from AFC Wimbledon in July 2016 (Image: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Mannion, who was born in Hillingdon back in May 1998, actually came through the youth ranks of AFC Wimbledon, whom he helped reach the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup as a 16-year-old.

The Dons saw off Premier League Academies in the shape of Watford and Newcastle United before they bowed out to Chelsea in round five, but Mannion was already earning rave reviews before that Cup run.

Needless to say, there were plenty of interested parties monitoring Mannion, and in July 2016, he joined Hull City on a three-year deal.

Read More

The two clubs were unable to agree a fee for his signature and so it went to a tribunal with Hull asked to pay an initial £100,000, plus further payments of up to £100,000 for appearances in the first team and up to £225,000 should he become an Under-21 and full international in a competitive match.

Mannion already has international honours having represented England at Under 19 level. His two caps came against the Netherlands in a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 win over Hungary.

Much of Mannion’s first season at the KC Stadium was spent playing for the Tigers’ Under-23 side, although he did make the bench for the EFL Cup match with Exeter City. This season, Mannion made his first team debut in Hull’s 2-0 EFL Cup defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

Read More

Speaking about his move to Home Park, Mannion told Argyle’s official website: “I got a late call yesterday evening. I was at an England goalkeeper camp, training, at St George’s Park.

“I came back and found out I’d had a few missed calls. I contacted my goalkeeping coach and he said: ‘Pack your bags – you’re going to Plymouth’.”

Mannion’s arrival at Home Park is certainly down to mitigating circumstances and with a game to play with the ink still drying on his week-long contract, he has no time at all in which to get ready for the clash with Yeovil.

“It’s a bit unlucky to say the least. I’ve just been told I’ve got to get ready for the game today. Then we’ll see what happens,” he said.

Read More

“It’s going be a case of ‘Hi, how are you?’ and off you go. I’ll try to get to know everyone as quick as I can and I’m sure they will make me feel comfortable.

“I always want to challenge myself and this is a massive step to where I want to be. I want to play first-team football, week in week out. It’s daunting, but it’s something you have to go through to make it to where you want to be in the game.

“I’m a second-year pro now and this will be my first proper loan. I’ve been on the bench a few times at the start of the season and made my debut in an EFL Cup game, and had a few Under-23 games in between then and coming here.